Welcome to A.P. Boatbuilding A. P. Boatbuilding is based at Alvecote Marina on the Coventry CanalOur experienced team of craftsmen specialise in the repair and restoration of traditional wooden narrow boats and other canal craft. Together we have over 60 years experience in narrowboat maintenance and construction and can build or repair everything from a set of cabin doors to a complete traditional craft. Our TeamThe team have over 70 years combined experience working on traditional wooden and composite canal narrowboats and other craft. Our WorkWe've worked on a wide range of historic narrowboats, including Saturn, Walton, Birchills and Greenman. Whether you live aboard your narrow boat or not, you should consider the security of your craft. Our simple guide tells you how. Nobody wants to see their beloved boat become a crime scene so it's worth investing some time and money to ensure your craft is not an easy target. Luckily Towergate, specialists providers of Narrowboat insurance have prepared the following guide to securing your Narrowboat.
Boat security starts with your choice of mooring. Well run marinas with a gated and access controlled environment might cost money but you'll be rewarded with peace of mind. In such a predictable setting, basic security precautions such as locking your boat when you are away will suffice. But those moored in unsupervised marinas or along the canal need to take more serious security measures. These become especially important for craft moored on the towpath side in inner urban areas. Country moorings have also been the victims of crime, with boats in some remote locations being targeted by thieves. A boat is a car and a house combined when it comes to security, so many of the common sense rules that apply to your home and vehicle are also good practice afloat. Things like keeping valuables out of sight, and preferably off the boat altogether, when you are away. Shut the curtains, especially on the towpath side, to stop people looking into your boat. Secure anchors, gangplanks, ropes and gas bottles - there's lowlife out there that will help themselves to almost anything!
The doors and hatches are an important part of your security measures. Fit them all with good quality locks, hasps and padlocks. Make sure the doors are made of sturdy stuff, solid wood or sheet steel is best and metal skins will add toughness to weaker timber doors. For high crime areas, installing steel door bars gives castle-style security and most thieves will turn and seek an easier steal when seeing a boat fitted with that level of protection! Windows are often a security weak spot on a narrowboats. Many boat owners fit lockable shutters to protect them from forced entry or vandalism. A bit of welding and fabrication is needed to fit the shutter mounts but it's a job worth doing if your windows present a tempting target to the local yobs. A boat can be alarmed and immobilised. Many electronic security systems exist at a wide range of prices. The simplest systems use movement sensors linked to loud alarms but pricier systems can send you a text message if they detect an attempted break in.
If you have a shore-power hook-up, consider CCTV. There's a wide range of web-enabled cameras available that can record any suspicious activity at your mooring. Footage can even be viewed remotely on an iPad, mobile phone or computer. When mooring in populated areas, consider using chains to tie up your boat. The juvenile prank of casting off a moored boat is one that apparently entertains enough people to make it a big problem in some areas. Finally, fuel is expensive and easy to steal so fitting a lockable filler cap is a sensible security upgrade. Securing your boat might start to look expensive if you go for even half of the options listed here. But you can always add your security measures one by one and spread the cost over a period of time. Anything you do to make your boat a harder target will make it more secure and will give you extra peace of mind - and that's something well worth spending some time and money on! Want to find out more about our Narrowboat Insurance?
Want more Narrowboat Advice? We;ve got loads of guides, videos and tips. Keep scrolling for more - based on what you've been reading. Preparing your narrowboat for winter and likewise getting it ready for the new season is imperative to your craft's longevity. In some cases it will also help avoid damage... Narrow boat breakdown pt. 4 - fuel and breaking cables In this section of or narrow boat breakdown guide we look at fuel contamination and cables. Read on to find out more about maintaining these aspects of your narrowboat. Buying a Narrowboat - first time buyers guide If you're buying a narrowboat for the first time you may be unsure of what to look out for. Our first time buyers guide acts as a handy checklist to give handy advice so you... Narrow Boat Insurance Explained We provide specialist cover for the narrow boats and barges which travel up and down our inland water ways. This article explains the different types of craft we can cover...
An internal error prevents the completion of your request.Nick Thorpe Boat Building - Quote Calculator Use the calculator below to construct a price guide for your new boat Narrowbeam (6'10" wide) @ £300/foot Widebeam (10' wide) @ £400/foot Length of boat (feet): Longer / wider steel rear hatch (36" wide x 42" long) Extra side doors (24" wide x 32" high) Side hatch - above side doors (24" wide x 12" long) Recessed panels for traditional / semi-traditional cabin Front bow lockers, plain for wood tops Front bow lockers - port/starboard, self draining, door radiused Rear lockers, for semi-traditional radiused Boatman's roll and scroll work Pole and plank rack Bowthruster including top locker Bowthruster with through deck access Rear rails to cruiser stern Rear gates to rails (fully enclosed) stern Note: Price quoted is EXCLUSIVE OF VAT. Send this quote to Nick Thorpe and request further information:
Copy myself in on email: Purposely built for single day use for hire companies, or for people wishing to hire from their own base. The traditional stern was originally found on working type boats. This offers the most internal cabin space, reducing the rear deck size. Although keeping the lines of a traditional boat, it offers a larger rear deck space by having an open roof area over the engine. The larger rear deck space on an open cruiser layout offers a more sociable aspect to narrowboating. Shares the same stern as a traditional boat, but also offers a high level front deck to replicate the old working tug boat style. No cost steelwork options Integral handrail, well deck / tug deck, rubbing strakes welded, side doors, windows / portholes, steel back & front doors, vented gas bottle locker and much more.Customise your new boat to exactly how you need it. We work closely with Barrus and Beta Marine for our modern dieselAll engines are fitted and commissioned at our premises.